On The Farm
December is a month of celebrations. It is the sixth day of Hanukkah as I write this newsletter. Solstice and Yule will celebrate the coming of light, Christmas celebrating faith, and Kwanzaa celebrating community. We each are celebrating something personally or communally that opens us, helps us to be grateful, inspired, positive and joyful.
Those of us who live with animal friends consistently look at their quality of life to determine whether they are positive and joyful. How often do we look at our own lives with the same scrutiny? Quality of life measures the enjoyment of each day, not just the number of days in our lives. Being grateful, inspired, positive and joyful are qualities that enrich our lives daily. Eating well and moving keep us physically healthy. Socializing, playing and challenging ourselves to learn new things (or to solve the daily Wordle) keeps our minds clear, open and working well. Spiritual practices, even walks in nature, keep our hearts open and expansive.
When we are doing well, we have the physical stamina, the clarity of mind, and the generosity of spirit to assure that our animals are well cared for. Whenever I felt down, foggy headed or worn out, I would ask myself, “What would Classy (the horse) do?” The BookShelf this month, has an offering that is a treasure of simple ways to reset ourselves, especially when we feel overwhelmed by the energies of what is happening around us.
Blessings for your celebrations and may your new year nourish your heart.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
Last week, Julie Sabatine, founder and manager of the My Happy Place horse sanctuary, issued a plea for donations to rescue two rare breed Shires from auction. Among others, the amazing people who read this newsletter raised the $5000 needed within 3 days! What a gift!
Here is her thank you note to you:
My Happy Place Animal Sanctuary would like to send big energetic hugs of gratitude to everyone who read about the Shire siblings and answered the call to help them. We anticipate hauling on December 20. We will evaluate them and set them on a course for healing.
When they are healthy and settled, we hope to pursue light duty caisson service for police, firefighter and military funerals. Our sanctuary motto is: "We are all just here to help walk each other home, leaving only love and kindness in our tread." Quite literally, we would be helping walk home those who have served, and it would be an honor to do so.
Rescuing the shires is just the first step, and we are excited to see how their journey unfolds. We have set up sponsorship levels for those who wish to continue supporting them. For less than $1 a day, you can be a part of their rehabilitation. We are also thankful for any larger donations for harness equipment and a caisson. Referrals to corporate sponsors who would embrace our initiative is also greatly appreciated.
We are grateful to this community of like-minded people for your donations. Season's Greetings, and Thank you!
You can follow the Shires’ progress at www.myhappyplaceanimalsanctuary.org.
The Bookshelf
Healing with Nature: Mindfulness and Somatic Practices to Heal from Trauma by Rochelle Calvert PhD and Mark Coleman
Self care is becoming an increasingly more urgent task as we end this year. Looking back at what 2023 has given us, we are now preparing to make our traditional resolutions to assure that the new year is enriched.
This beautiful volume presents very simple, effective practices that engage different aspects of nature such as observing the elements of earth, air, water and fire both within ourselves and in our environment. Some practices come completely naturally, like using the breath in different ways to calm the vagus nerve and its fight/flight tendencies. Other practices may offer you a different way to manage strong feelings, flashbacks, and stress in general.
This book will touch your life whether you read it beginning to end, or just open to a chapter that appeals to you. Calvert and Coleman provide clear background for each practice, as well as clear instructions for doing them. Give yourself the gift of self-care this year in whatever form works best for you!
Cause of the Month
I am in my 18th year of service in animal communication instruction and practice, the 6th year of my shamanic teaching and healing practice, and the first year of my animal chaplaincy. Over those years, nearly 125 persons have been trained to be of service to animals and their people. Over 900 persons per year have received personal service. The work is my passion and my joy to provide.
The work is growing because of increasing awareness of animal consciousness and quality of life. I am training advanced communicators and shamanic practitioners to offer the work and education to their own clients. They are as passionate as I am to be of service.
The work of chaplaincy has grown exponentially as our world becomes more aware and more stressed. We depend upon the presence of our animal friends more than ever, especially since Covid-19, for the comfort and enrichment we know they provide to us. So many people are discovering that spiritual support for themselves in loss, animal illness, or even welcoming new animal family members is helpful for both person and animal.
My vision is to be able to provide the chaplaincy support to everyone who wants it, without financial barrier to service, including veterinary offices/staff and those in shelters/sanctuaries. The chaplaincy work is currently being done gratis, which I love doing, but is not sustainable as there are costs involved.
If you have had a good experience with animal communication or shamanic healing—if you have received chaplaincy support, I ask that you consider contributing something toward those who need these services. Paying it back, paying it forward. Thank you for your consideration.
Donations may be made through paypal “friends & family”, using the email: ramsey.judy003@yahoo.com.
Please note that it is a donation for the chaplaincy fund.
PLEASE NOTE: I will be having knee surgery (45 years of horseback riding) the last week in January 2024. I will be taking two months for recovery, so the class year will be starting again in April, full speed ahead!
The 2024 classes are listed now on the website, so take a look. We will begin the shamanic practitioner year-long training in April, including setting sacred space and protection for yourself, working with your ancestors, and shamanic gardening to help you manifest your best life. FUN!
Find full descriptions and costs of the classes and events on the website - www.JudyRamsey.net. Registrations are on the website. Once registered, a Zoom invitation will be sent to register to receive the meeting i.d. and passcode. If you want to attend a journey circle, please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net. All classes and journey circles are recorded for your convenience.
January 4 & 18, 2024
Journeying Circle
If you know how to do shamanic journeying, you know that it is a path of direct revelation. Come join us as we explore different aspects of our life’s path, doing healing for ourselves as well as for the world. Zoom registration required—contact Judy at info@JudyRamsey.net
7pm-8.30pm EDT
Cost is $25 per session or $40 per month to attend
Zoom
January 27 & 28 2024
Basic Animal Communication
Learn how to communicate telepathically the way that animals communicate to each other. In this basic class, you will open your intuitive senses through exercises designed to take you gently step-by-step into telepathic communication. In a fun, nurturing class environment, you will open your intuitive senses through the first day. By the second day, you will be ready to explore communication with animal guests who have offered to teach you how to understand what they want to say. Come join us!
9am-5pm EDT
Cost is $180, $90 for repeating students.
Zoom